Before the Bell: Global markets mixed ahead of Italian auction

Global markets are mixed on Thursday as Italian and Spanish bond yields fell helping restore investor confidence.

The lower yields helped reduce Eurozone debt crisis fears but the overall concern remains for investors. All eyes will be on Italy as it hosts another bond auction today.

The Stoxx 600 Index was up 0.4 per cent at 255.42. London's FTSE 100 was up 0.1 per cent at 5637.84, Frankfurt's DAX was up 0.6 per cent at 6712.60 and Paris's CAC-40 was 0.2 per cent higher at 3244.24. The euro currency is presently fetching US$1.3129.

Asian bourses ended mostly higher due to what's unfolding in Europe and encouraging Australian employment data. China's Shanghai Composite jumped 1.8 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.9 per cent, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index added 0.8 per cent and Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 0.7 per cent.

On Wall Street, U.S. futures are pointing to a higher open. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 33 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 12,777, while those for the S&P's 500 Index rose four points, or 0.3 per cent, to 1,368. Nasdaq 100 futures added 8.5 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 2,712.75. Key U.S. economic data is due for release Thursday including the February trade balance, March producer prices and weekly jobless claims.

Canada's benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index closed Wednesday at 12,026.76, a gain of 91.47 points, or 0.77 per cent. Canada's junior Venture Exchange edged up 4.02 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 1,435.12. The Canadian dollar is trading at 99.58¢ US.